TV: 8.1 Million People Watch ‘The Walking Dead’ Finale!

If this doesn’t scream for more hardcore horror TV series, I don’t what will. A record-setting series finale of The Walking Dead (user reviews) lifted the AMC series to the biggest average seasonal audience in the 18-49 demo of any drama in basic cable history. Sunday’s final episode of the first season drew more than 6 million total viewers and 4 million in 18-49, boosting the series’ 18-49 average over its six-episode run to 3.5 million. According to Nielsen, that’s the best average of any basic cable drama going back to 1993. Repeat airings of the finale at 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. boosted the episode’s total audience to 8.1 million. Last month, “The Walking Dead” was greenlit for a second season of 13 episodes. Between “Dexter,” “True Blood” and “The Walking Dead”, horror has taken over TV. Get ready for plenty more!